Editing Thomas Jefferson (section)

===Final days, death, and burial===
{{See also|Death of John Adams}}
[[File:Thomas Jefferson's Grave Site.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Obelisk at Thomas Jefferson's gravesite|Jefferson's gravesite at [[Monticello]]]]

Jefferson's approximately $100,000 of debt weighed heavily on his mind in his final months, as it became increasingly clear that he would have little to leave to his heirs.<ref>{{cite web |title=From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, 8 February 1826|via=Founders Online, National Archives |access-date=February 19, 2025|url=https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/98-01-02-5893}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=The Personal Finances of Presidents, Part 1: Thomas Jefferson |last1=Grinder|first1=Brian|last2=Cooper|first2=Dan|url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/2507249852f51075c95cca5f79b09fd6/1.pdf?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1946335|date=October 1, 2022|access-date=February 19, 2025|via=Financial History}}</ref> In February 1826, he successfully applied to the General Assembly to hold a public lottery as a fundraiser.<ref name=Ellis288>[[#Ellis96|Ellis, 1996]], pp. 287–288.</ref> His health began to deteriorate in July 1825, due to a combination of [[rheumatism]] from arm and wrist injuries, and [[Gastrointestinal tract|intestinal]] and [[urology|urinary]] disorders.<ref name="Peterson 1970 ch11"/> By June 1826, he was confined to bed.<ref name=Ellis288/> On July 3, overcome by fever, Jefferson declined an invitation to attend an anniversary celebration of the Declaration in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]].<ref>[[#Tucker37|Tucker, 1837]], v. 2, p. 551.</ref>

{{anchor|Death}}
During his last hours, he was accompanied by family members and friends. Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, at 12:50&nbsp;p.m. at age 83, on the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. In the moments prior to his death, Jefferson instructed his treating physician, "No, doctor, nothing more", refusing [[laudanum]]. But his final significant words were, "Is it the Fourth?" or "This is the Fourth".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/jeffersons-last-words|title=Jefferson's Last Words|last=Martin|first=Russell L.|date=June 7, 1988|website=Monticello|access-date=February 2, 2019}}</ref> When [[John Adams]] died later that same day, his last words were "Thomas Jefferson survives", though Adams was unaware that Jefferson had died several hours before.<ref>[[#McCullough|McCullough, 2001]], p. 646</ref><ref>[[#Ellis03|Ellis, 2003]], p. 248</ref><ref name="rayner428–29">[[#Rayner34|Rayner, 1834]], pp. 428–429.</ref><ref name=Berstein189>[[#Bernstein03|Bernstein, 2003]], p. 189.</ref> The sitting president was Adams's son, [[John Quincy Adams]], and he called the coincidence of their deaths on the nation's anniversary "visible and palpable remarks of Divine Favor".<ref>[[#Meacham|Meacham, 2012]], p. 496.</ref>

Shortly after Jefferson died, attendants found a gold locket on a chain around his neck, containing a small faded blue ribbon around a lock of his wife [[Martha Jefferson|Martha]]'s hair.<ref>[[#Donaldson|Donaldson, 1898]], p. 49.</ref>

Jefferson was interred at [[Monticello]], under an [[epitaph]] that he wrote:

<blockquote>HERE WAS BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON, AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, OF THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AND FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.<ref>[[#TJFBio|Thomas Jefferson Foundation: "Thomas Jefferson, A Brief Biography"]]</ref></blockquote>

In his advanced years, Jefferson became increasingly concerned that people would understand the principles in the Declaration of Independence, and the people responsible for writing it, and he continually defended himself as its author. He considered the document one of his greatest life achievements, in addition to authoring the [[Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom]] and founding the [[University of Virginia]]. Absent from his epitaph were his political roles, including his presidency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/jeffleg.html|title=Legacy: Thomas Jefferson|website=Library of Congress.gov|access-date=June 15, 2019|date=April 24, 2000}}</ref>

Jefferson died deeply in debt, and was unable to pass on his estate freely to his heirs.<ref>[[#Bernstein03|Bernstein, 2003]], p. xii.</ref> He gave instructions in his will for disposal of his assets,<ref>[[#Tucker37|Tucker, 1837]], v. 2, p. 556.</ref> including the freeing of Sally Hemings's children;<ref name="Meacham, 2012, p. 495">[[#Meacham|Meacham, 2012]], p. 495.</ref> but his estate, possessions, and slaves were sold at public auctions starting in 1827.<ref>[[#Ellis96|Ellis, 1996]], p. 289.</ref> In 1831, Monticello was sold by [[Martha Jefferson Randolph]] and the other heirs.<ref>[[#TJFSale|Thomas Jefferson Foundation: "Sale of Monticello"]]</ref>